repoverlay

Apply configuration files to git repositories without committing them.

Files are symlinked (or copied with --copy) from overlay sources and automatically excluded from git tracking via .git/info/exclude.

Quick Reference

Installation

Homebrew (macOS/Linux)

brew install tylerbutler/tap/repoverlay

Shell installer (macOS/Linux)

curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -LsSf https://github.com/tylerbutler/repoverlay/releases/latest/download/repoverlay-installer.sh | sh

PowerShell installer (Windows)

irm https://github.com/tylerbutler/repoverlay/releases/latest/download/repoverlay-installer.ps1 | iex

Cargo binstall

cargo binstall repoverlay

Cargo

cargo install repoverlay

From source

git clone https://github.com/tylerbutler/repoverlay
cd repoverlay
cargo install --path .

Usage

Apply an overlay

# From local directory
repoverlay apply /path/to/overlay

# From GitHub (uses default branch)
repoverlay apply https://github.com/owner/repo

# From GitHub with specific branch/tag
repoverlay apply https://github.com/owner/repo/tree/v1.0.0
repoverlay apply https://github.com/owner/repo --ref develop

# From a subdirectory within a repo
repoverlay apply https://github.com/owner/repo/tree/main/overlays/rust

# From overlay repository
repoverlay apply org/repo/overlay-name

# Options
repoverlay apply ./overlay --target /path/to/repo  # Apply to specific directory
repoverlay apply ./overlay --copy                   # Copy instead of symlink
repoverlay apply ./overlay --name my-config         # Custom overlay name

Remove overlays

repoverlay remove              # Interactive (lists applied overlays)
repoverlay remove my-overlay   # Remove specific overlay
repoverlay remove --all        # Remove all overlays

Check status

repoverlay status                  # Show all applied overlays
repoverlay status --name my-overlay # Show specific overlay

Update GitHub overlays

repoverlay update              # Check and apply updates to all GitHub overlays
repoverlay update --dry-run    # Check without applying
repoverlay update my-overlay   # Update specific overlay

Restore after git clean

repoverlay restore             # Restore overlays from external backup
repoverlay restore --dry-run   # Preview what would be restored

Create overlays

Create overlays and store them in the overlay repository:

# Short form: detect org/repo from git remote
repoverlay create my-overlay                    # Creates org/repo/my-overlay

# Explicit form: specify full path
repoverlay create microsoft/vscode/ai-config   # Creates microsoft/vscode/ai-config

# Include specific files
repoverlay create my-overlay --include .claude/ --include CLAUDE.md

# Local output (no overlay repo)
repoverlay create --local ./output --include .envrc

# Preview what would be created
repoverlay create my-overlay --dry-run

# Overwrite existing overlay
repoverlay create my-overlay --force

Add files to an existing overlay

Add files to an overlay that's already applied:

repoverlay add my-overlay newfile.txt              # Add single file
repoverlay add my-overlay file1.txt file2.txt      # Add multiple files
repoverlay add org/repo/my-overlay path/to/file    # Explicit overlay path
repoverlay add my-overlay config.json --dry-run    # Preview without changes

This copies files to the overlay repo, replaces the originals with symlinks, and automatically commits/pushes the changes.

Sync changes back

After modifying files in an applied overlay, sync changes back to the overlay repo:

repoverlay sync my-overlay          # Sync changes from applied overlay
repoverlay sync org/repo/my-overlay # Explicit path
repoverlay sync my-overlay --dry-run # Preview what would be synced

The create, add, and sync commands automatically commit and push to the remote overlay repo.

Switch overlays

Replace all existing overlays with a new one:

repoverlay switch ~/overlays/typescript-ai
repoverlay switch https://github.com/user/ai-configs/tree/main/rust
repoverlay switch ~/overlays/new-config --name my-config

Manage cache

repoverlay cache list           # List cached repositories
repoverlay cache path           # Show cache location
repoverlay cache clear          # Clear entire cache
repoverlay cache remove owner/repo  # Remove specific cached repo

Overlay Configuration

Create a repoverlay.ccl in your overlay directory to configure it:

overlay =
  name = my-config

/= Rename files when applying
mappings =
  .envrc.template = .envrc
  vscode-settings.json = .vscode/settings.json

/= Symlink entire directories as a unit
directories =
  = .claude
  = scratch

Configuration Options

overlay - Overlay metadata

• name - Custom name for the overlay

mappings - Rename files when applying (source = destination)

directories - List of directories to symlink as a unit rather than walking individual files. Useful for directories like .claude/ or scratch/ that should be managed atomically. In copy mode (--copy), directories are recursively copied instead of symlinked.

Without a config file, all files in the overlay directory are symlinked with the same relative path.

License

MIT